BJPennDotCom Radio

27-year-old Marcus Brimage is just beginning his career as a mixed martial artist. The Alabama native defeated previously undefeated Jimmy Hettes at UFC 152 in September to run his record in the Octagon to a perfect 3-0. Although he has been competing since 2007, the active duty National Guardsmen has just seven total fights to his credit.

As he looks forward to what should be a very promising career it is clearly evident that Brimage has a future in entertainment once his fighting days are over. Much like Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, the man who “The Bama Beast” says got him interested in becoming a fighter, Brimage is a natural entertainer with a great sense of humor.

Hopefully those days are a long way off and Brimage will continue to have success in the UFC. As part of the Alchemist Management team, Brimage has nothing to worry about other than becoming the best fighter he can be. As far as potential opponents are concerned, there is someone that came to mind when we asked Brimage who he’d like to fight next.

Brimage then asked us if we had seen the fight and when I told him I had not, he jokingly called my professionalism in to question. I did however explain how that I heard that for once, many people felt Garcia was the one who was robbed by the judges. Brimage also went into detail on how he feels fighters sometimes get too much credit for takedowns.

“He (Garcia) did (get robbed), but I’m going to talk about your professionalism right now,” explained Brimage. “I’m very disappointed in you right now and your lack of professionalism. Garcia totally got robbed and to be honest with you I picked Holloway to win. Garcia started dropping bombs on him and Holloway didn’t want any part of it so he took him down twice.”

“Not to be funny, but the way judges score takedowns in the UFC is just whack. If someone takes you down they usually win the fight. Garcia took him down twice and tried to pull a Rapmpage Jackson slam in the last 20 seconds and then loses the decision? Garcia was obviously the aggressor and he was chasing him all around the ring. It’s bullshit, shenanigans; I’m calling everything on that one.”

With a little over a year under his belt fighting in the UFC, Brimage has learned some very valuable lessons both in and out of the cage. Apparently the US Government hasn’t been to kind to him during tax season.

“Inside the ring I’ve learned to be more patient and put more time into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu,” Brimage said. “I knew enough to get by, but as time progressed these guys are getting better and better. The UFC is the pinnacle of mixed martial arts; it’s the Super Bowl of MMA. In order to progress I have to be able to adapt to any situation so I worked hard on my wrestling and my wrestling defense. I worked even harder on my BJJ defense. I got me a submission now, I’m not going to tell you what it is, but I know if I get it sunk in, it’s over.”

“I have learned that taxes are a mother. I didn’t know anything, when you come to the UFC they need to have a class because you’re entering a new tax bracket. I went to get my taxes done and I’m used to getting back anywhere from $800-1500 back from the government and they told me I owed $8000! I was calling all my old girlfriends and asking is little Roman mine! I was trying to get all types of tax breaks. It was a shocking thing to owe the government $8000.”

Before Brimage came to the UFC he competed as a lightweight, but knew right away that fighting at 145lbs was the best move he could make considering the size of some of the UFC 155lber’s. There was one fighter in particular who Brimage came across that made that decision a whole lot easier.

“I have two words for you, Gleison Tibau,” offered Brimage. “I saw him and he was like, I fight at 155. I said Mother F***er how much do you weigh? He tries to tell me he weighs 180 and I said no you are lying, get on that damn scale! Then he was like, ok, 202. When he said that I looked at my roommate dead in his eyes and said, dog if anyone asks me I’m at 145. He’s yoked and I mean he’s not fat. He drops from around 200lbs to 155 and I’m like there’s no way that’s happening for me. I’ll just drop down to 145.”

About BJPenn.com

Shouted out after victory to the UFC masses, BJPENN.COM is the home to multiple time champion BJ Penn. After a decade of on-line operation BJPENN.COM has evolved into the most reliable destination for all your fighter interviews, fighter blogs and MMA/UFC news stories.